Device for sharpening hypodermic needles



June Z2, 1948.

R. ToR'TEsQN DEVICE FOR SHARPENING HYPODERMIG NEEDLES Filed May 9, 1947 KW xxx ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE fDEVICE FOR SHARPENING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Robert '.lorteson, Auburn, Mass. Application May 9, 1947, serial No. 141,043

This invention relates to new and improved means for sharpening hypoderrnic needles and includes means for holding the needle with its free or penetrating end adjacent a precisionmade grinding or honing surface at an angle to the axis of the needle so as to sharpen the needle at the optimum penetrating angle, havingregard to the strength of the hypodermic needle.

It is well known by users of hypodermic needies that they quickly become dull and curl up forming ahook, this hook being very painful to theuser and capable offorming infections and bruises in the skin, and it is a, primary object of this invention to provide a relatively simple, pocket size Sharpener which may be used by anyone and which will sharpen th'e needle effectively at the proper angle so as to provide a penetrating point which is clean and sharp and which will not form the above described hook in use.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a precision pocket 4device for sharpening hypodermic needles comprising a holder which is open at one end and is hollowed out for a major portion of its length, said holder terminating at its closed end in an inclined grinding or stone guiding surface of the proper angle, there being a small passage intersecting this surface and communicating with the hollow portion of the holder for reception of the h'ypodermic needle so as to locate the penetrating end thereof at said surface for grinding and honing the same at. the proper angle; and including a rod insertable in the hollow holder, said rod being provided with friction means holding the name wh'ere manually positioned and including at the inner end thereof a tapered projection on which the hypodermic needle may be located for insertion of the latter in the holder so as to position the needle in the above described passage.

Oth'er objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the device showing the same in use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the device;

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged central longitudinal section through' the holder; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 3.

It has been found that hypodermic needles will work best if sharpened on an angle of approximately relative to the axis of the needle, and in order to achieve the best results the present invention provides a holder lil which may be 2 Claims. (Cl. 51-217) compact tool which may be carried in the pocket l knurled for a part of its length and which in the present case is illustrated as cylindrical. This holder is formed with a surface I2 at a 20 angle to the axis., of the holder, providing a precision surface for guiding a stone or other grinding tool I4 which' is reciprocated on theinclined surface as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 also shows in dotted lines the needle I6, the penetrating end of which intersects surface I2 so as to be ground andhoned according to the inclination of the surface. As shown in Fig. 3, `the hol-der I is h'ollowed out for a considerable portion of its length as indicated at I8 .and terminates in an inclined shoulder 2li. This shoulder merges with a tapered portion 22 which may have an approximately 2 taper. The tapered portion 22 which is sh'own as conical communicates with a passage 24 to accommodate the needle I6, passage 24 leading from the hollow portion I8 tothe surface The hypodermic needle itself comprises the penetrating part I6, tapered portion 26 which ts the hollow taper 22, and a cap 28 which is hollow and interiorly cylindrical. All hypodermic needles are made in this fashion as is well known.

A rod 30 is provided, this rod having at one end a tapered projection 32 which receives the part 28 of the hypodermic needle and due to the taper of the projection 32, the hypodermic needle will be lightly" but rmly held particularly if it is given a slight twisting motion when applied to the projection. The rod 3U is provided with a spring-pressed ball 34 which holds the rod wherever it is placed in th'e hollow I8, and the opposite end of the rod 30 is provided with a knurled finger grip portion 36 for manipulating the same.

The passage 24 is made to accommodate the needle I6 .as closely as possible and in actual practice passage 24 is made with a No. '72 drill, but, of course, this particular size may be varied to suit conditions although it is believed that 28 thousandths of an inch is th'e correct size for this passage.

It will be seen that this invention provides a or purse; it cannot get out of order inasmuch as the surface I2 is fixed and will not deteriorate regardless of the length of the use of th'e same. The hypodermic needle is firmly held in position and the light stoning will not disarrange the needle in any way so that a good sharp clean penetrating end is easily obtainable. The present device may be m-ade of any kind of materiall desired, metal, glass, plastic, or any suitable material without departing from the scope of th'e invention and it is pointed out that the device is so simple in the use and operation thereof that anyone can operate the name effectively in order to maintain the hypodermic needle in optimum condition.

The ball 34 is fully concealed when in use, and preventsianytendeny to rotative/'or longitudinal movement-of the rod 3i), thus avoiding-anyandV all screws, clamps, etc., and the taper 32 will take and hold all hypodermic needles made. use of the device both hands are used independently so that correct positioning is'asil'y"`g5b tained, and the device cannot slip due to the generous knurling.

Having thus described my invention andthe advantages thereof, I do notwish"toheliinited to the details herein disclosed Otherwisethanl'as set forth in the claims, but `what I claim is:

11i A dene? fer; precision Sharpening of hypodermicineedleshaving' tapered "apsfnimg abofdy open at'oneend and c'lsedat` tfleptlier end ,h and 4hollovvor"a s'ulstantialfpat f its length', a vsnfiall `pass`age`froni the hollow' through the closed endf'of 'the"body,L a slightly enlarged tapered portion atv the end of `the" passage at' the hollova at inclined tol'guidingsurface' at'vthe closed endQsaid'pas'sage int"ersect'iiig]l the sface, `arod in the hogiy,"said rod' adapted -to` holdfa hypodernic needle bj1-,hef cap thereof, the `vneedle being alined Withthe ypassage 'bythe `1".dl as the latter is sud into thehuo'wbdy, the tapeed In the frod closely tting the hollow, tapered means to secure a. hypodermic needle to th'e rod, the latterbe'ing'otata'ble and axially slidable in the holden means resisting movement of the rod in -theholderythe cap of the hypodermic yneedle being adapted to abut the shoulder to hold the needle las close-las'possible to the penetrating end thereof.

ROBERT L. TORTESON.

`-REFRENeEs elfi-ED -The` following references tare` -ofv record liii-'the 'le yof thispatent:

UITED *STATES PT'NTS 2,389,969 Mascarenhas- Nov, 13, 1945 -:2,389,679 YMichelsonA Nov. 257, -1945 2,408,544y Banner Och-1,1946 

